Bears’ appetites soar in fall, so stash your garbage

Florida black bears turn into eating machines this time of year, stuffing their stomachs in preparation for winter.

For gluttonous bears, raiding a garbage can may be more appealing than foraging in the woods. To reduce human-bear conflicts during the surge of bear activity in late summer and fall, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges people to keep food sources around their homes and businesses secure from bears.

“Due to the current drought, Florida black bears are starting earlier and roaming farther this year in pursuit of the high-calorie meals that prepare them for winter,” said FWC Bear Management Program Coordinator David Telesco. “People should respect the fact that bears are large, powerful wild animals. If people secure their garbage and other sources of food, bears will be less tempted to hang around in places where they don’t belong.”'

For more on this story, see the September 8 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.